CHEESECAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine a delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe with a layer of cheesecake to make a dessert that is the best of both worlds! This amazing bar cookie recipe is simple to make and a hit at every party!

I’ve always loved chocolate chip cookies and I’ve also always loved cheesecake. So when I found this recipe for chocolate chip cheesecake bars several years ago, I knew it was going to be amazing. Combining my two favorite desserts? YES!  I’ve made a few modifications over the years and the results are just so yummy! I’m so glad to share this recipe with you because I know you’ll love it as much as I do!

This tasty cookie bar dessert is perfect to take to your next gathering or party. Watch as all of the cheesecake cookie bars disappear and people beg for more. Tip- hide 2 or 3 servings for yourself somewhere safe so you don’t miss out!

Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Ingredients

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE LAYER:

Butter – Salted or unsalted works fine. Just make sure the butter is softened to room temperature.

Butter flavored Crisco – My favorite chocolate chip cookies use a combination of butter and butter flavored Crisco. It really does make amazing cookies. If you don’t have any on hand, you can use regular Crisco or you can even swap this out for more butter as well. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of shortening, so if you do swap in butter as a substitute, you will need a little bit more. So use 1/2 cup butter PLUS an extra tablespoon.

Brown sugar & white sugar – Don’t leave the sweetness out! Make sure your brown sugar is fresh and not dried out for best results.

Vanilla extract

Salt

Apple cider vinegar – One thing that made me nervous about this recipe is that there is a tablespoon of cider vinegar in it. What?! I did some research and apparently it helps the cookie dough to set up and crisp up a little bit. I’ve made the recipe with it and without and can’t tell a huge difference, but there is a subtle difference and I usually add it in. I promise, you won’t be able to taste it at all! I have also used rice vinegar instead and it works well too.

Egg

Baking soda – Double check to make sure this isn’t expired!

Flour – Regular all-purpose flour works best!

Semisweet chocolate chips

CHEESECAKE LAYER:

Cream cheese – This will mix in so much easier if it is completely softened to room temperature first! You can use regular cream cheese or even a low-fat or non-fat variety – they all work!

Sugar

Egg

Vanilla extract

How to Make Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

In a bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugars.

Add in the vanilla, salt, and vinegar. Mix well.

Beat in the egg, then add in the baking soda and flour.

Stir in the chocolate chips, and set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese with the sugar until thoroughly combined.

Beat in the egg and vanilla.

In a greased 9×13 pan, spread out half of the cookie dough to make a bottom crust in the pan.

Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the cookie dough.

With the remaining cookie dough, flatten chunks of dough between your hands into discs.

Place the discs on top of the cream cheese mixture. They don’t have to touch but try to cover as much cream cheese as possible.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until the top of the cookie is brown and cooked through.

Cool completely and then store in the fridge.